Detroit Tigers' Ian Kinsler celebrates hitting a walk off single against the Kansas City Royals in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Detroit Wednesday, April 2, 2014. Detroit won 2-1. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Last season, they compiled a 93-67 overall record, yet were just 20-26 in one-run games. Conversely, in games decided by five or more runs, the Tigers were 33-15.

In 2012, the Tigers were 88-74 overall –and only 21-27 in one-run decisions, but still above .500 in so-called “blowout” games.

So the first two games this year have presented an improvement, albeit early, in an important area.

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Against a club many consider their most formidable American League Central rival, the Kansas Royals, Detroit has won back-to-back one-run games.

Wednesday, it was by a 2-1 count in 10 innings. In the season opener, it was a walk-off 4-3 victory in the ninth.

The Royals had the best bullpen in the American League last year. The Tigers have broken through against it twice already.

While Detroit closer Joe Nathan blew a save opportunity in the ninth Wednesday, the Tigers’ still found a way to win a close game.

These are the type of games that supposedly fit the Royals’ best. They are also strong defensively.

The new replays rules certainly helped the Tigers. Two missed, although very close, calls at first base were reversed in Detroit’s favor.

But that’s not really a break – just an advancement of the sport at its highest level that happened to benefit the Tigers Wednesday.

If there are concerns which have flashed, it’s been shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Despite being the hitting hero in the opener, he has not played well defensively.

And there’s the Nathan blown save.

Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus indicated he has little concern about Nathan, who didn’t hold a one-run lead in the ninth after starter Max Scherzer threw eight shutout innings.

“If it’s a one-run game, I have no problem bringing in Joe Nathan tomorrow,” Ausmus said.

Ian Kinsler had given the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning off Royals’ starter Jason Vargas, one of those crafty lefties who taunt hitters with changeups. Kinsler also played well defensively. The power is a welcome sign.

He had 32 and 31 home runs in 2009 and 2011, but only 13 last season.

“I’m not surprised by Ian Kinsler’s power,” Ausmus said. “He’s been an All-Star before. Hopefully, he will be an All Star again this year.”

Kinsler was also acquired from Texas for a player, Prince Fielder, who hit 30 and 25 home runs in ’12 and ’13 for the Tigers.

They need extra base power from Kinsler. Badly.

Scherzer was terrific. While he didn’t light up the radar gun, he was extraordinarily effective mixing his pitches.

Up. Down.

In. Out.

His fastball tailed noticeably as it approached the plate. His off-speed pitches are incredibly improved from two years ago. He struck out a hitter with a 75 mph curveball. He fanned a batter with a 94 mph fastball. He threw just about every other type of pitch there is, at just about every point of velocity, in between.

As for the crowd reaction to Scherzer as he took the mound in the aftermath of turning down the Tigers’ reported $144 million, six-year offer to extend his contract, there, well, wasn’t any.

The second-day crowd was relatively sparse as he was warming up before the first pitch. It was really no different than any other game.

And the crowd didn’t react that much, either, after Scherzer allowed a couple base runners early in the game. They sure liked it, though, when he pitched out of a runner-at-second-nobody-out jam during the eighth inning.

Scherzer said his in-game adjustments didn’t come with his fastball, but his breaking ball.

“I was able to slow my breaking ball down,” Scherzer said.

Scherzer has refined his command of the ball to the point it isn’t necessary to throw it in high 90s anymore for him to be effective.

And it appears like the Tigers might be a more consistent team overall.

Both were good news for Tigers’ from Comerica Park Wednesday.

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.